ABOUT

Artist Statement

My work is a visual conversation between my subconscious, imagination, and what I have observed. The conversation is made manifest in charcoal, paint, paper, glue, tape, and pencil. It is a conversation about who we are and what we might be as individuals and as a “herd”. I do extensive preparations to the paper surface and I plan the drawing before I begin. I am always surprised by how the conversation transpires and what evolves through the dialogue out on to the paper. Am I the cow? Are we the herd? It is an ongoing conversation. I am looking and listening to the to see what will come.

(Be) still (and) listen (to) see (the) sounds (of) nature

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ARTIST STATEMENT

BIO

After completing her B.A. at the University of North Carolina, Suzanne Tanner studied at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and earned her M.F.A. in painting and drawing from Tulane University. She also completed her Teaching degree at the University of West Florida in Pensacola and afterward spent years teaching art in various schools and at the Governor’s school for Gifted in the Visual Arts students in Charlottesville.

In addition to Tanner’s vigorous studio practice and her large-scale charcoal drawings of animals. Tanner has written and designed two children's books using her unique torn paper collages to illustrate them. These have won great praise in such papers as the New York Times Book Review. She has work in many public and private collections, including the Battle Building at the University of Virginia’s Children Hospital and Martha Jefferson Hospital.

EXHIBITIONS

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2019

Celebrating Creativity: Works by Local Women Artists, Darden School of Business,
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

2018
Expressions in Black and White, Les Yeux du Monde Gallery, Charlottesville, VA

2006
Group Exhibition, Spruce Creek Gallery, Nellysford, VA

2005
Pages from a Picture Book, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA

2002
The Original Art Show, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
Best of PVCC, Piedmont Virginia Community College, Charlottesville, VA

2001
New Paintings, Solo Exhibition, New Dominion Gallery, Charlottesville, VA

2000
Planet Art, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA
Paintings from the Piedmont, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA
Group Exhibition, New Dominion Gallery, Charlottesville, VA

1999
Moving into the Millennium: Darkness, Les Yeux du Monde, Charlottesville, VA
Black and White, Between the Lines, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA
Origins of the Species-ist, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
Montana Interpretations, The Arts Chateau, Butte, MT

1998
Wood Memorial Biennial 1998, Wood Memorial Library, South Windsor, CT

1992
Faculty Exhibition, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL

1988
Paper in Particular, Columbia College, Columbia, MO

1983
Moravian College Print National, Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA

1982
Bookworks, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA

Works held in private and public collections throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, and France

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EDUCATION
MFA, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
BA, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO

CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Boom Chicka Rock (Penguin Young Readers, 2004)
Wake Up, Big Barn (Scholastic Books, 2002)

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Sunday New York Times Book Review (10/20/2002)
C-VILLE Magazine, Charlottesville
Albemarle Family Magazine, Charlottesville
Parent Magazine
Child Magazine
Nick Jr.Magazine
Paintings from the Piedmont, Achievement Award, Charlottesville, VA

GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Art and Writing, Virginia Commission for the Arts. Broadus Wood Elementary School, Earlysville, VA
Central Virginia Writing Project, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Tulane University MFA Research Grant, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA

RESIDENCIES
Kindling Words, Burlington, VT
Highlight Foundation, Honesdale, PA
Penland School of Craft, Resident, Penland, NC
Artists for the Environment, Resident, Walpack, NJ, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
McGuffey Art Center, Juried member studio, Charlottesville, VA

WORKSHOPS
Wake Up to Collage!, Artist in residence and instructor, Albemarle County Schools, Charlottesville, VA
A Very Special Arts Week, Instructor, Jefferson Parish School System, New Orleans, LA
Saturday School Workshops, Instructor, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA

STUDIES ABROAD
Paris American Academy, Paris, France
Cortona, Italy, University of Georgia Studies Abroad, Athens, Paris American Academy
Psalmodi Archeological Site, Williams College, Saint Laurent D’Aigouze, France

ARTICLES & REVIEWS

Sunday New York Times Book Review, October 2002

Cville, “Les Yeux Du Monde Shows Brilliance in Black and White,” April-May, 2018

Albemarle Family Magazine, “Inside the Studio of Suzanne Tanner Chitwood,” March , 2007

Parent Magazine

Child

Nick Jr.

Booklist, February 1, 2002, Ilene Cooper, review of Wake up, Big Barn!, p. 945.

Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2002, review of Wake up, Big Barn!, p. 408.

Publishers Weekly, April 1, 2002, review of Wake up, Big Barn!, p. 82.

School Library Journal, April, 2002, Lee Bock, review of Wake up, Big Barn!, p. 101.

Pippin Properties, Inc., 2002